When asked what they saw as the most important issue the city faces, most every candidate mentioned the city’s finances and budget.

Miller, a businessman, served previously on the council for over six years and for three years on the city’s Planning Commission along with stints on other city boards. He’s in favor of Measure M because he said it does what it needs to in terms of regulation. But on raising the city’s transient occupancy tax, he’s changed his stance.

“I used to be against it because I think the city needs to live within its means but I’ve evolved to being for it because it negates any loss that’s possible from Measure M,” said Miller.

Steve Lilley (Courtesy of Steve Lilley)

Lilley said he wants to bring businesses into Pacific Grove that are appropriate for the city and grow the city’s tax base that way. He’s voting against Measure M because he doesn’t think the initiative process is the right way to make public policy.

“I understand both sides, zoning is one thing, but it’s also budget and taxation,” said Lilley. “There are too many issues to be addressed by the initiative process.” On raising the transient occupancy tax, Lilley is clear cut.

“It’s a simple ‘yes’ — we need the revenue. Our tax at 10 percent is low compared to other cities around here.”

Andrew Kubica (Courtesy of Andrew Kubica)

Kubica also thinks that city leaders need to consider the budget moving forward and is most concerned about Pacific Grove’s infrastructure.

“We need to replace the streets and sidewalk and look at the way we spend our money,” he said.

In terms of short-term rentals, Kubica said the citizens are going to decide what happens and the council will have to deal with it either way but his vote will be no on Measure M.

“I have a concern losing $1.5 million,” said Kubica, while noting he would be voting yes on raising the hotel tax.

“The city needs the money to either to fix the sidewalks or streets or we’re going to use it for the increase in CalPERS in a couple years.”

Joe Amelio (Courtesy of Joe Amelio)

Amelio, who grew up in New Monterey, worked as a police officer in Gilroy and then went on to be a business owner and work as a teacher, principal and superintendent in the Bay Area. Six years ago, he moved back to P.G., where he currently serves as vice chair of the city’s recreation board and on the board of directors for the Italian Heritage Society.

Like his fellow candidates, he too is concerned about the city’s budget and stands firmly against Measure M.

“Walking around many of the neighborhoods, I come across several people that have lost (a short-term rental) due to the lottery and we’re going to have a major deficit in our budget,” said Amelio. “It was up to 289, and the City Council already reduced it to 250.”

Amelio supports the hotel tax increase.

“Last time it was raised was in 1987,” he said. “If it goes up from 10 to 12 percent I think it will help our budget.”

Jenny McAdams

One of three female candidates, McAdams who is a mother and a department administrator at the Santa Lucia Preserve. She has long been involved in city politics, especially when it comes to short-term rentals. She was one of the initial backers of “P.G. Residents for Families and Neighbors,” which helped lead to the ballot measure.

“The city has had seven years now to get this program fine-tuned and it’s not working,” said McAdams about the short-term rental program. “Measure M simplifies the program and makes it easy to understand and pinpoint illegal (short-term rentals).”

To her, the biggest problem the city currently has is mistrust of its officials.

“It’s about gaining the trust from the community — so that means accountability, transparency and supporting the residents is No. 1. … Right now it’s so divisive. I want to reel that back in and create policy in a manner that is supportive of the residents and community,” she said.

When it comes to raising the transient occupancy tax, McAdams is against it.

“It’s not that I don’t want the revenue — for me, it’s written poorly. I would have preferred to see the council make other cuts,” said McAdams.

Tama Olver (Courtesy of Tama Olver)

Olver, a former programmer, manager and tech company executive who served on the Monterey County Grand Jury in 2008 and on the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History board for five years is for Measure U but when it comes to Measure M, she said she’d vote no.

“I don’t believe it’s the best or only way to solve our (short-term rental) issues,” said Olver. “At the same time, I’d like to be part of the council to address what’s not working with them.”

Like most of her fellow candidates, she sees the city’s future financial stability over the next few years as her biggest concern.

Amy Tomlinson (Courtesy of Amy Tomlinson)

Tomlinson, a mother of two who has been a P.G. resident since 2014, volunteers for many local events and served in the U.S. Navy for 18 years. She said that while she’s against Measure M, she too wants to be on the council to help provide the governance and control the short-term rental program.

“Measure M is poorly written and takes control away from City Council but I do believe limiting and governing them is very important,” she said.

That’s while she noted that raising the transient occupancy tax is on par with similar communities and that she supports it.

Mostly, she said it’s time P.G. voters put those in office who represent them with innovative and new ideas.

“I have new ideas as to how to come up with revenue-generating ideas during a fiscally tight time that lies ahead,” said Tomlinson.